Gail Kerr: It is time to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores

Jan. 15, 2014

House members, including Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, left, and Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, right, say the Pledge of Allegiance as the 108th General Assembly is reconvened Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, in Nashville. The session is expected to feature debates over creating a school voucher program and whether to allow supermarkets to sell wine. / Mark Humphrey / Associated Press

Written by

Gail Kerr

The Tennessean

In the 1970s, actor Orson Welles made famous this slogan when referring to the Paul Masson brand: ďWe will sell no wine before its time.Ē

Well, itís 2014 in Tennessee. And itís time.

Itís time for the legislature to follow the will of its constituents and allow wine to be sold in grocery stores. Itís time for the 70 percent of voters who were polled to have their wish met: They want to vote on it. Itís time that the convenience to customers trumps the bulging wallets of liquor lobbyists and distributors that, until now, have controlled the market.

Itís looking good this year. Finally, after well over a decade, the legislature is lining up in support of a bill that would allow any county or city to vote on whether to allow wine sales in groceries (if that municipality already allows the sale of spirits in liquor stores). Hey, it took our legislature 15 years to pass seat belt legislation, and longer than that to approve a lottery. They may move slowly up on Capitol Hill, but they eventually do move.

And whatís moving them now is the fact that all arguments against wine in grocery stores have been shot down like clay pigeons at a skeet shoot. Among the myths:

ē ďIt would put liquor stores out of business.ĒThat hasnít happened in other states, and it wonít happen here. Granted, liquor store owners may need to alter the way they do business. And lawmakers need to amend state liquor laws to make it more fair for them. For example, people should be allowed to own more than one liquor store. Liquor stores should be able to sell items other than liquor, wine and high-alcohol beers. They should be able to sell corkscrews, ice, snacks, glassware and such.

Those who make this argument also insult the liquor store ownerís expertise. If Iím picking up an inexpensive chardonnay to have with fish for dinner, Iím going to go to Publix if given the chance. But if Iím giving a dinner party, Iím going to go to the expert ó my local liquor store owner ó and consult with them on what wine best goes with pork piccata. In fairness, buying your everyday wine at the grocery does cut into the liquor store ownerís revenue. But there are ways for them to make it up if they can sell other merchandise. Lawmakers must decide whether the risk to liquor store owners is worth more than the convenience to their constituents.

ē ďIt will encourage underage drinkers who could easily buy wine and get plastered.Ē This is just ridiculous on its face. Grocery store clerks are the most vigilant carders on earth. They have to be, or theyíll lose their jobs. No one, no matter what your age, can buy beer at Kroger or other grocery stores without showing an ID. Itís down-right comical to see a checker giving the senior discount to someone and also carding him for his Miller Lite, but thatís the reality. Underage drinkers will try the same tricks they use now to buy wine, liquor or beer. Having wine in grocery stores will not contribute to that problem.

ē ďSome communities donít want wine sales in groceries.ĒFine. Thatís why the bill to allow local voting on the issue makes so much sense.

ē ďIt wonít be fair for wine sales to be allowed on Sunday and not beer or liquor sales.ĒThis is simple. Make the wine laws match the beer laws.

Both House Speaker Beth Harwell and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey say wine in grocery stores will probably pass this year. A majority of their voters hope so. Because itís time.

Gail Kerrís column runs on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. She can be reached at 615-259-8085 or gkerr@tennessean.com.